Texas Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz speaks to the media Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Houston a day after trouncing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a runoff. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Texas Republican Senate candidate Ted Cruz speaks to the media Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012, in Houston a day after trouncing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in a runoff. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

Photo: Pat Sullivan / Associated Press

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Cruz says government shutdown could lead to terrorist attack

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Sen. Ted Cruz warned of the possibility of a terrorist attack against the U.S. during the government shutdown if political leaders don’t come to a consensus about how to fund the government at a hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Cruz spoke at a Senate Judiciary Committee about the Foreign Surveillance Intelligence Act, but his comments came after Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the committee that 70 percent of the civilian intelligence force had been furloughed.

Calling on President Barack Obama to step up in his role as Commander-in-Chief, Cruz said the U.S. needed to be able to respond to the security threat that Clapper and Director of National Security Keith Alexander laid out.

“If, God forbid, we see an attack on the United States because the intelligence community was not adequately funded, every member of this committee would be horrified,” Cruz said.

Cruz and his fellow Republicans have said Obama is not negotiating with their party, and if he agreed to meet with Republican leaders, the government shutdown might end sooner.

“I don’t believe President Obama should be playing politics with this,” Cruz said. He shouldn’t be refusing to negotiate and compromise, he should be stepping forward to correct this problem right now.”